Overseas Communication - The Territory Office, Cabinet Secretariat - Government initiatives｜Office of Policy Planning and Coordination on Territory and Sovereignty

Former Minister in Charge of Territorial Integrity Ichita Yamamoto's visit to 3 ASEAN countries (Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore)

From January 12 to 17, 2014, Mr. Ichita YAMAMOTO, then Minister in Charge of Territorial Integrity, visited Malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore, where he met with the relevant ministers as well as experts and medias, with a view to promoting a correct understanding of the Japanese position on the situation concerning Japan’s territorial integrity.

Meetings with Government Ministers

１．Meetings

January 13 Mr. Dato’ HAMZAH Zainuddin, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia
January 15 Mr. Dato’ Sri ANIFAH bin Aman, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia(Conference call)
January 14 Mr. Pham Binh MINH, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vietnam
January 15 Ms. Grace FU, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs, Singapore

２Summary/Overview
In each of the meetings, then Minister Yamamoto stressed that the current situations in the East China Sea and in the South China Sea are directly linked with each other, and that they both pose challenges to the maritime order of entire Asia, while free and open seas and airspace are the prerequisite of Asian prosperity. He also emphasized that no country should be allowed to attempt to unilaterally change the status quo through force or coercion, and that we should ensure that all parties comply with universally accepted principles of international law.
Former Minister Yamamoto also explained that the Senkaku Islands are indisputably an inherent part of the territory of Japan in light of historical facts and based upon international law. He then said that the Japanese government will continue to act firmly and calmly against any attempts to change the status quo through force or coercion with a determination to resolutely protect Japan’s territory, territorial seas and airspace.
Former Minister Yamamoto then stated that, as then Minister in charge of Ocean Policy and Territorial Integrity, he intended to continue to meet the various challenges to Japan’s territorial integrity on the basis of the following 3 principles, which were basically supported by his counterparts.
(1) The rule of law,
(2) The promotion of bilateral relations with neighboring countries
(3) Strengthening of regional community in Asia, which is becoming increasingly interdependent

January 13 Mr. Dato’ HAMZAH Zainuddin,
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia

January14 Mr. Pham Binh MINH, Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vietnam

January 15 Ms. Grace FU, Minister in the
Prime Minister's Office and Second
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Singapore

Speech at the Fullerton Lecture, organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies(IISS)

１．Date　　　　　January 16, 2014
２．Venue　　　　 The Fullerton Hotel, Singapore
３．Occasion　　　Fullerton Lecture
４．Organizer　　 International Institute for Strategic Studies(IISS)
５．Theme　　　　 Asia's Prosperity and the Importance of Open Seas
６．Participants 　Approximately 200 experts and academics from Singapore as well as neighboring countries
７．Overview
On Jan.16, then Minister Yamamoto made a speech in English, titled "Asia's Prosperity and the Importance of Open Seas", at the Fullerton Lecture, at the request of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (I ISS). The IISS, which is one of the world’s leading think-tanks, was the organizer of the event.
While the IISS organizes various seminars, this was the first time that a serving Japanese cabinet member gave a speech at the Fullerton Lecture.
The lecture was attended by about 200 experts and academics coming from Singapore as well as its neighboring countries. The event turned out to be a very positive occasion in Japan’s endeavor to promote a correct understanding of Japan’s position concerning our territorial integrity in this region.

Speaking at the IISS Fullerton Lecture,
then Minister Yamamoto

Q & A session at the IISS Fullerton Lecture,
then Minister Yamamoto

Meetings with resident Japanese and interviews by local press

Former Minister Yamamoto also presented Japan’s position concerning Japan’s territorial integrity during his trip on various other occasions, including when he met with resident Japanese in the three countries he visited, as well as during his interviews with local press.

Meeting with resident Japanese and
Japanese companies

Interview by local press